Systems and methods for providing recreational assistance

ABSTRACT

Embodiments for providing recreational assistance are described. A system for providing recreational assistance includes a frame and a microphone, a speaker, and at least one processor connected to the frame. The at least one processor is in operable communication with the microphone and the speaker and configured to, in response to the detection of an aural command by the microphone, generate a signal representative of a distance between the frame and a landmark and cause the speaker to generate an aural indication representative of the distance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/444,681, filed on Jan. 10, 2017, which is herein incorporated byreference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to computing systems, and moreparticularly, to various embodiments for providing recreationalassistance during various activities, such as playing golf.

Description of the Related Art

Every year, millions of people around the world take part in variousactivities, such as recreational activities, that may be enhanced by theparticipants utilizing various types of electronic devices. For example,while playing a round of golf, participants may use various devices todetermine/measure distances (e.g., from their current location to agreen), play audio files (e.g., music or golfing tips), keep scoreand/or play various types of games against other golfers, orderrefreshments, call for assistance (e.g., if their cart breaks down),etc.

However, generally speaking, in order to perform all of the desiredfunctions, users must utilize more than one, and sometimes several,devices. For example, a user may find themselves alternating between astand alone Global Positioning System (GPS) module, a tablet device, anda mobile phone in order to enhance the activity as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments for providing recreational assistance are described.In one embodiment, by way of example only, a recreational (e.g.,golfing) assistant device is provided. The device includes a frame and amicrophone, a speaker, and at least one processor connected to theframe. The at least one processor is in operable communication with themicrophone and the speaker and configured to, in response to thedetection of an aural command by the microphone, generate a signalrepresentative of a distance between the frame and a landmark and causethe speaker to generate an aural indication representative of thedistance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the invention brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are nottherefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a recreational assistant deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a golfing assistant device according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a display device of the golfing assistantdevice of FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart diagram of an exemplary method for providingrecreational assistance according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary computing deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As discussed above, countless people around the world take part invarious activities, such as recreational activities, that may beenhanced by the participants utilizing various types of electronicdevices. For example, while playing a round of golf, participants mayuse various devices to determine/measure the distances (e.g., from theircurrent location to a green), play audio files (e.g., music or golfingtips), keep score and/or play various types of games against othergolfers, order refreshments, call for assistance (e.g., if their cartbreaks down), etc.

Generally speaking, in order to perform all of the desired functions,users must utilize more than one, and sometimes several, devices. Forexample, a golfer may find themselves alternating between a stand aloneGlobal Positioning System (GPS) module, a tablet device, a wirelessspeaker, and a mobile phone in order to enhance their round of golf asdesired. Doing so may be cumbersome and frustrating, as at least some ofthe devices must be manually controlled separately, which may result inthe overall experience not be optimized, and may even lead to one ormore of the devices being lost and/or damaged (e.g., if a mobile phoneis dropped while the user is trying to order food/drinks from theclubhouse).

To address these needs, embodiments described herein provide systems andmethods for providing recreational assistance utilizing devices withmultiple types of functionality integrated into a single, portable frame(or casing or housing). Although much of the description provided hereinrefers to the use of these methods and systems in relation to golf, itshould be understood that the embodiments described herein may beapplied to other types of recreational activities, such as disc golf,hunting, fishing, camping, etc. Furthermore, the embodiments describedherein may be applied to work-related activities, such as surveying andconstruction.

According to some of the embodiments described herein, an assistantdevice is provided that includes a portable frame (or housing) withvarious types of functionality integrated therein, such as thosedescribed below and/or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, theassistant device includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) module to,for example, determine the location of the frame and/or the distancebetween two points (e.g., the distance between the frame and a landmark,such a portion of a green on a golf course). The assistant device mayinclude at least one microphone and at least one speaker, which may beutilized in combination with the GPS module (and/or the othercomponents/features included), as described below. The assistant devicemay include a wireless communication receiver and/or transmitter (e.g.,a transceiver), such as a BLUETOOTH enabled transceiver, to, forexample, interact with other devices and/or software componentsinstalled on other devices (e.g., mobile electronic devices, such asmobile phones) in a vicinity of the frame. Other features may include,for example, an internal memory, an audio codec, a power supply (e.g., abattery), a display device (e.g., a liquid-crystal display (LCD)), avoice processing module (or chipset), and various ports/inputs (e.g.,for audio bypass). At least some of the functionality may be provided byat least one processor, as is commonly understood in the art.

In some embodiments, the assistant device provides an “aural” (or audio)navigation experience. That is, the GPS functionality may be enhanced bythe device responding to aural (or voice) commands (or requests orinquiries) and/or providing aural notifications that includenavigational (or GPS) information, such as a distance between twopoints. For example, while playing a round of golf, a user may speak acommand that is indicative of a request for the distance to the green ofthe current hole (or flagstick), or more specifically, the distancebetween the assistant device and a portion of the green of the currenthole (e.g., “distance to hole”). Upon detecting (or receiving) the auralcommand, the pertinent information may be retrieved from and/ordetermined using the GPS module. The information may then becommunicated to the user by an aural notification (e.g., via thespeaker(s) on the device) that is indicative of the distance. The auralnotification may include a voice response or speech (e.g., “165 yards”).

In some embodiments, different aural commands (or different types ofaural commands) may result in different information being communicatedby the aural notification. For example, if the aural command isindicative of a request for the distance to a particular portion of thegreen (e.g., “distance to front” or “distance to back”), the auralnotification may be appropriately tailored by including the specificinformation requested (e.g., the distance between the device and thefront edge of the green or the back edge of the green, as opposed to thedistance to the hole/flagstick on the green).

In some embodiments, the aural commands may also be used to performother functions, such as “navigating” the environment, such as a golfcourse. For example, the user may voice an aural command that isindicative of the completion of a particular hole (e.g., “next hole”),which may notify the device that the GPS mapping data utilized shouldinclude the green for the next hole on the course. As another example,the user may speak an aural command that indicates the user is about toplay a particular hole (e.g., “set hole number 7”), such as may be thecase in which the player has decided to play particular holes forpractice.

In this manner, embodiments described herein may provide “hands free”GPS functionality and/or distance estimations (i.e., without the userneeding to manually manipulate the device), allowing the user to performother actions while obtaining the GPS information (e.g., taking a clubfrom his/her golf bag, eating/drinking, etc.).

In some embodiments, the assistant device provides other functionality,perhaps utilizing the wireless communication transceiver in combinationwith another computer device (e.g., a mobile phone or tablet device) inthe vicinity of the assistant device (or frame). For example, audiofiles may be transmitted from the other computing device to theassistant device and rendered by the speaker(s) (e.g., music may be“streamed” from a user's mobile phone or tablet device, transmitted tothe wireless communication transceiver, and played by the speaker(s)).As another example, various types of software components (orapplications) may be utilized through the assistant device, such as asoftware component associated with golf (e.g., a “scoring” applicationor “skins” application), which may be installed on another computingdevice and operated through the assistant device via the wirelesscommunication transceiver, or alternatively, installed on the deviceitself (and implemented by a processor and/or a memory on the device).The assistant device may also be used for various types ofcommunication, such as making phones calls (e.g., a “speaker phone”functionality), sending texts/emails, placing orders, etc. (e.g., whenutilized with another computing device).

The various functionality provided by embodiments described herein maybe operated using aural/voice commands, as described above with respectto the GPS functionality. However, it should be understood that in someembodiments, user input devices (e.g., buttons) may (also) be includedon the device and used to control the various types of functionalitydescribed herein.

In particular, in some embodiments, a recreational (e.g., golfing)assistant device is provided. The assistant device includes a frame, amicrophone connected to the frame, a GPS module connected to the frame,at least one speaker connected to the frame, and at least one processorconnected to the frame and in operable communication with themicrophone, the GPS module, and the speaker. The at least one processoris configured to, in response to the detection of an aural command bythe microphone, cause the speaker to generate an aural indicationrepresentative of GPS information received from the GPS module.

The GPS information may include a distance between the frame and alandmark on a golf course. The landmark may be a portion of a green onthe golf course (e.g., the front edge of the green, the back edge of thegreen, or the hole/flagstick on the green).

The at least one processor may be further configured to, in response tothe detection of at least a second aural command by the microphone,cause the at least one speaker to generate a second aural indicationrepresentative of a distance between the frame and a second landmark onthe golf course. The second landmark on the golf course may be a portionof a second green on the golf course.

If the aural command is a first type of aural command, the landmark maybe a first portion of the green. If the aural command is a second typeof aural command, the landmark may be a second portion of the green.

The at least one processor may further be configured to cause at leastone audio file to be rendered by the at least one speaker. The at leastone processor may further be configured to cause a volume with which theat least one audio file is rendered by the at least one speaker to bereduced while the aural indication is generated by the at least onespeaker.

The assistant device may further include a wireless communicationsreceiver connected to the frame and in operable communication with theat least one processor. The wireless communications receiver may beconfigured to receive data from a computing device (e.g., a mobile phoneor tablet device) in a vicinity of the frame, wherein the data comprisesthe at least one audio file.

The at least one processor may further be configured to cause a volumewith which the at least one audio file is rendered by the at least onespeaker to be reduced when the frame is within a predetermined distanceof the landmark. The at least one processor may further be configuredto, in response to the detection of at least a second aural command bythe microphone, control a software component installed on the computingdevice utilizing the wireless communications receiver.

In some embodiments, a recreational (e.g., golfing) assistant device isprovided. The assistant device includes a frame, a microphone connectedto the frame, the microphone being configured to detect an auralcommand, a speaker connected to the frame, and at least one processorconnected to the frame and in operable communication with the microphoneand the speaker. The at least one processor is configured to, inresponse to the detection of the aural command by the microphone,generate a signal representative of a distance between the frame and alandmark on a golf course and cause the speaker to generate an auralindication representative of the distance.

The at least one processor may include a GPS module. The at least oneprocessor may further be configured to, in response to the detection ofat least a second aural command by the microphone, cause the at leastone speaker to generate a second aural indication representative of adistance between the frame and a second landmark on the golf course.

The landmark may be a portion of a green on the golf course. If theaural command is a first type of aural command, the landmark may be afirst portion of the green. If the aural command is a second type ofaural command, the landmark may be a second portion of the green.

The at least one processor may further be configured to cause at leastone audio file to be rendered by the at least one speaker. The assistantdevice may further include a wireless communications receiver connectedto the frame and in operable communication with the at least oneprocessor. The wireless communications receiver may be configured toreceive data from a computing device in a vicinity of the frame. Thedata may include the at least one audio file. The at least one processormay further be configured to, in response to the detection of at least asecond aural command by the microphone, control a software componentinstalled on the computing device utilizing the wireless communicationsreceiver.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a simplified block diagram of a recreationalassistant device 100 according to some embodiments described herein isillustrated. As described above, in some embodiments, the assistantdevice 100 may be provided with functionality that may make theassistant device 100 particularly beneficial for users playing golf.However, also as described above, in some embodiments, the assistantdevice 100 (or similar devices described herein) may be utilized inother activities, both recreational and work-related.

As shown in FIG. 1, the assistant device 100 includes a frame (or casingor housing) 102. The frame may be made of (or at least include) anysuitable material, such as metals (e.g., aluminum, steel, etc.),plastics/polymers, and/or combinations thereof. In the depictedembodiment, connected (or coupled) to the frame 102 and/or housed withinthe frame 102 are a processor 104, a memory 106, a power supply 108, aGPS module 110, a voice processing module (or hardware) 112, atransceiver 114, an audio codec 116, a speaker(s) 118, a microphone 120,a display device(s) 122, a user input device(s) 124, and a port(s)and/or connector(s) 126. The various components 104-126 of the device100 may generally jointly perform the functionality of the device(s)and/or the methods described herein.

The processor 104 may be, for example, any suitable microcontroller(MCU) and/or microprocessor (MPU), as is commonly understood in the art,which is capable of and/or configured to control the overall functioningof the device 100 as described herein. As such, the processor 104 (aswell as any of the other components 106-126) may include, for example,any suitable substrate (e.g., silicon, printed circuit board (PCB),etc.) with an integrated circuit formed thereon/coupled thereto,including multiple transistors, capacitors, etc. Although not explicitlyshown, it should be understood that the processor 104 may be in operablecommunication (e.g., via a bus, conductive lines, vias, etc.) with theother components 106-126 shown in FIG. 1 (and/or the components 104-126may be in operable communication with each other) in any suitable mannerto provide the functionality of the assistant device 100 as describedherein.

The memory 106 may be any suitable memory utilized for storing varioustypes of data which may be utilized by the device 100 to perform thevarious forms of functionality described herein (e.g., GPS data, audiofiles, processor instructions, etc.). For example, the memory 106 mayinclude a NAND flash memory and/or a NOR flash memory.

The power supply 108 may include any suitable source of electrical powerthat may be utilized to operate the assistant device 100 as describedherein. For example, the power supply 108 may include a (rechargeable)lithium-ion battery (e.g., 2200 milliampere hour (mAh)).

The GPS module 110 may include any suitable antenna and/or receivercapable of receiving information from one (or more) of various satellitenavigation systems, as is commonly understood, which may be used in anysuitable manner to achieve the functionality described herein. Althoughthe term “GPS” may be frequently used in this description, it should beunderstood that any suitable navigation system may be used that allows,for example, the determining of various types of navigationalinformation, such as the distance between the frame 102 and anotheritem, such as a landmark (e.g., a portion of a green on a golf course).For example, any suitable satellite navigation system (or GlobalNavigation Satellite System (GNSS)) receiver may be used, including, forexample, those utilizing GPS and/or the GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDousatellite systems. Appropriate mapping data may be loaded onto, forexample, the GPS module 110 and/or the memory 106 (e.g., via theports/connectors 126 and/or the transceiver 114) and used as describedherein (e.g., to determine the distance between the device 100 andvarious landmarks, such as portions of greens on a golf course).

The voice processing module 112 may include any hardware suitablyconfigured to analyze, learn, and/or recognize speech (or voicecommands, requests, etc.) and convert the speech into text and/or viceversa, as is commonly understood. As one example, the voice processingmodule 112 may include a Text-to-Speech (TTS) and/or Speech-to-Text(STT) chipset.

The transceiver 114 may include any suitable wireless communicationtransceiver (and/or antenna). In some embodiments, the transceiver 114includes a BLUETOOTH (and/or BLUETOOTH Low Energy (BLE)) enabledtransceiver. However, it should be understood that other types ofwireless protocols/technologies may be utilized, such as Wi-Fi,Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Z-WAVE, Zigbee, Wireless USB, etc., and evenoptical infra-red.

The audio codec 116 may include a device and/or software component thatis configured to encode and/or decode a digital stream or signal, suchas audio data, as is commonly understood. In embodiments in which theaudio codec 116 is a (standalone) device, the audio codec 116 mayinclude an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a digital-to-analogconverter (DAC), operating using the same clock signal.

The speaker(s) 118 may include any electroacoustic transducer(s), as iscommonly understood, suitable of generating the desired sounds (e.g.,voice/speech messages, playing music, and other sounds). The microphone120 may include any transducer suitable for converting sounds intoelectrical signals, via, for example, air pressure variations, as iscommonly understood.

The display device(s) 122 may include any components suitable forvisually providing information to a user. In some embodiments, thedisplay device(s) 122 includes a display screen, such as an LCD, and/orother devices, such as indicator lights (e.g., light-emitting diode(LED) indicator lights).

The user input device(s) 124 may include any component suitableconfigured to be manually manipulated by a user to control aspects offunctionality of the device 100. Examples include buttons, dials,“sliders,” etc. In some embodiments, one or more of the user inputdevice(s) 124 may be located on a “key fob” (or similar device) whichmay be separate from the frame 102 and be configured to communicate withthe other components of the assistant device 100 in any suitable manner(e.g., via transceiver 114). The port(s)/connector(s) 126 may includeany type of port and/or connector suitable for performing variousfunctions, such as charging the power supply 108, uploading data intothe memory 106 and/or the GPS module 110, etc., such as a powerconnector port, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, etc.

It should be understood that in some embodiments, different components(i.e., more or less) may be included in the assistant device 100.Additionally, some of the functionality provided by more than one of thecomponents 104-126 shown in FIG. 1 may be performed by a singlecomponent. For example, the functionality performed by the GPS module110, the transceiver 114, and/or the audio codec 116 may be performed bythe processor (e.g., a MCU).

Referring now to FIG. 2, a side view of a golfing assistant device 200,according to some embodiments described herein, is shown. The assistantdevice 200 includes a frame 202 (e.g., similar to frame 102 describedabove). In the depicted embodiment, the frame 202 has a substantiallyelongated shape that may be similar to that of a drink receptacle, andalthough not shown in detail, may have a substantially circularcross-section. The frame 202 may have, for example, a height of betweenabout 10 centimeters (cm) and about 40 cm (e.g., about 23 cm), and awidth (or diameter) of between about 3 cm and about 10 cm (e.g., about 6cm). In some embodiments, at least a portion of the exterior of theframe 202 is covered with a textured material, such as a rubberizedcoating. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 2, the assistant device200 may include, as described above, one or more speakers and amicrophone, which may be visible on the exterior of the frame 202.

At an upper portion 204 thereof, the frame 202 may have a hole formed,through which an attachment mechanism 206 may be inserted. In thedepicted embodiment, the attachment mechanism 206 is a karabiner thatmay be used to secure the assistant device 200 to, for example, a golfbag, a golf cart, etc. However, it should be understood that other typesof mechanisms, such as wire loops, straps, etc., may be used to securethe assistant device 200 in any suitable manner.

In the depicted embodiment, the assistant device 200 includes severaldisplay devices on a side of the frame 202, including a display screen208 and indicator lights 210. The display screen 208 may include an LCD,and the indicator lights 210 may include LED indicators. The displayscreen 208 may have, for example, a width of between about 2 cm andabout 6 cm (e.g., about 4 cm) and a height of between about 1 cm andabout 4 cm (e.g., about 2 cm).

Still referring to FIG. 2, the assistant device 200 also includesmultiple user input devices 212 in the form of buttons (e.g., fivebuttons) in the example shown. The user input devices 212 may be usedfor any suitable purpose, examples of which are described below.

A “power” button may be included that may be used to toggle theassistant device 200 between ON and OFF states. For example, asmall/quick actuation/press of the power button may turn the assistantdevice 200 ON, while a longer actuation (e.g., several seconds) may beused to turn the device OFF. A “golf mode” button may be used toactivate the GPS module/functionality and “golf mode functionality.” Forexample, if the assistant device 200 is ON, a relatively long press ofthe golf mode button may activate (or deactivate) the golf modefunctionality. If the golf mode functionality is activated, a quickactuation may cause an aural indication to be generated by the speakersthat informs the user(s) of the distance between the assistant device200 and a portion (e.g., the center or flagstick) of the green of thecurrent golf hole. A “golf hole” button may be used to navigate from onehole to the next (i.e., to indicate the GPS information utilized shouldbe based on the position of the green of the next golf hole). A “phonebutton” may be used to operate a phone functionality (i.e., incombination with a mobile phone in the vicinity of the assistant device200), such as to answer the phone and/or “hang up” the phone. A“play/pause” button may be used to cause music to be played by thespeakers and/or pause the playing of music. An “up/forward” button maybe used to increase the volume with which the music (and/or the auralindications) are rendered (e.g., when depressed for a relatively longtime, the device is “connected” to another computing device/softwarecomponent for playing music, and music is currently playing), as well asskip to the next song/track (e.g., when depressed for a short time andmusic is currently playing). Similarly, a “down/back” button may be usedto decrease the volume, as well as return to the beginning of thecurrent song and/or go back to the previous song.

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary operation of the display screen 208,according to some embodiments described herein. As shown, various typesof information and/or indicators may be displayed. In the depictedembodiment, the displayed information includes a “primary” distance 214,“secondary” distances 216 and 218, “location” 220, volume 222, wirelessconnectivity 224, and remaining power 226. In some embodiments, theprimary distance 214 is indicative of the distance (e.g., in yards ormeters) between the device (and/or the frame) and the center (orhole/flagstick) of the “current” green of a round of golf being playedby the user. Secondary distances 216 and 218 are indicative of thedistances to the front edge and back edge of the green, respectively.The location indicator 220 is indicative of the hole number of thecurrent golf hole (i.e., the location indicator 220 may indicate whichgreen on the golf course is being used to determine the distancesindicated as the primary and secondary distances).

The volume indicator 222 may provide a representation of the currentvolume setting (e.g., for aural indications, music being played by thedevice, etc.). In the depicted embodiment, the volume indicator 222 isshown as an image/icon of a speaker. As will be appreciated by oneskilled in the art, the number of “waves” shown emanating from thespeaker image/icon may change as the volume is adjusted (e.g., via auralcommands and/or user input devices).

The wireless connectivity indicator 224 may be indicative of whether ornot the device 200 is “connected” to an external computing device (e.g.,a mobile phone, tablet device, etc.) via the transceiver 114. That is,when the device 200 is connected to another computing device viawireless communication, the wireless connectivity indicator 224 may beshown/visible on the display screen 208, otherwise, the wirelessconnectivity indicator 224 may not be shown/visible on the displayscreen 208.

The remaining power indicator 226 may be used to indicate the remainingpower/charge of the power supply 108 (FIG. 1). In the depictedembodiment, the remaining power indicator 226 is shown in the form of animage/icon of a battery, with the number of “bars” and/or the amount thebattery is “filled” indicating the charge state of the power supply, asis commonly understood in the art.

It should be understood that in some embodiments, the various types ofinformation indicated by the display screen 208 may be communicated to auser via aural indications in a manner similar to that described above.For example, if an aural command is detected that is indicative of arequest for the current battery charge, an appropriate aural indication(e.g., speech, such as “80%”) may be caused to be generated by thespeaker(s) 118 (FIG. 1).

As described above, the devices described herein may be used to performvarious types of functionality related to, for example, the user(s)playing golf. The functionality may include, for example, navigationalinformation, playing music (or other audio files), interacting withsoftware components on another computing device, and communicating withother parties (e.g., ordering food/drink, making phone calls, sendingtext messages or emails).

As also described above, the various types of functionality may becontrolled via voice (or aural) commands, examples of which aredescribed below. In some embodiments, voice commands begin with aparticular “indicator word” that allows the device (and/or the voiceprocessing module) to recognize that the speech is a command/requestintended to control the assistant device. For example, voice commandsmay begin with generic indicator words, such as “device” or “golfhelper” or more specific words, such as a name (e.g., “Beacon”).

In some embodiments, at least when the assistant device is not connectedto (or communicating with) another computing device (and/or connected tothe Internet through another computing device), the detection of thevoice commands “volume up” (or “Beacon volume up”) and “volume down” mayresult in the volume of the aural indications and/or music beingsuitably adjusted. “Distance” may result in the creation of an auralindication that includes the distance between the assistant device andthe center of the green (and/or the flagstick) of the golf holecurrently being played by the user, while “distance to front” and“distance to back” may result in the distance to the front edge of thegreen and the back edge of the green, respectively. “Next hole” whichmay notify the device that the GPS mapping data utilized should includethe green for the next hole on the course, while “back one hole” mayresult in the mapping data being used including the green of theprevious hole on the course. “Start round” may initiate a round of golf(e.g., setting the current hole to the first hole), while “end round”may cause the GPS functionality to cease. “Set hole number X” (e.g.,“set hole number 7”) may be used to indicate that the user is about toplay a particular hole (e.g., such as may be the case in which theplayer has decided to play just particular holes for practice).

In some embodiments, at least when the device is connected to anothercomputing device (and/or connected to the Internet through anothercomputing device), such as when music from another device is beingplayed (e.g., from a memory on the other device and/or being streamedfrom the Internet), the detection of the voice command “pause music” mayresult in the music being paused (e.g., for a predetermined amount oftime or until a “play music” command is detected). “Next song” mayresult in the next song/track being played.

It should be noted that the voice commands may also be used to controlthe communication functionality provided by the assistant device (and/orby another computing device through the devices described herein). Forexample, if a phone is received (which may be indicated by an auralindication, such as a ring tone, being generated by the speakers), avoice command such as “send to voicemail” may result in the call notbeing answered, but the caller may simply be sent to a voicemailservice/box. Further, it should be noted that when the assistant deviceis connected to the Internet (e.g., via the transceiver and anothercomputing device), voice commands may be sent to and/or processed byonline intelligent personal assistants, which may result in varioustypes of actions being taken (e.g., either by the assistant deviceand/or other services).

Additionally, in some embodiments, the assistant device (e.g., the voiceprocessing module 112 and/or via an online assistant) is configured witha “voice recognition” functionality. That is, the assistant device maybe configured to learn/recognize voices so that when a particular userprovides a voice command to, for example, indicate his/her score on ahole, that score more be appropriately recorded (e.g., via a scorekeeping application on a mobile electronic device) for that user, andwhen a different user provides a similar command, that user's score isappropriately recorded. The voice recognition may also be used toperform other functions, such as making phone calls (e.g., via thetransceiver, as described above), so that the action taken is specificto the particular user.

In some embodiments, the assistant device is configured to automaticallyadjust some aspects of operation/functionality if certain circumstancesare detected. For example, if the assistant device (and/or the frame) isdetected as being within a predetermined distance (e.g., 20 yards) ofparticular landmarks (e.g., greens and/or tee boxes on a golf course),the volume (e.g., of music being played and/or of aural indications) maybe automatically reduced (e.g., reduced by 50%) or lowered to aparticular volume setting (if the volume is previously set higher thanthat setting). In such embodiments, the volume may then be(automatically) increased when the assistant device is detected asmoving to a position beyond the predetermined distance of thelandmark(s). Such functionality may be activated/deactivated and/oradjusted via device settings and/or preferences (as may the otherfunctionality described herein).

Also, if two (or more) assistant devices are detected as being within apredetermined distance of each other, the operation of at least one ofthe assistant devices may be automatically adjusted. For example, ifboth assistant devices are being used to play music, when the devicesare detected as being relatively close to each other (e.g., within 10yards), the volume with which music is being played by one of thedevices may be automatically reduced (and/or the music being played bythat device may be paused). Also, in some embodiments, the assistantdevices may be “synched” (e.g., via the transceiver 114) so that bothdevices play the same music (and/or generate the same aural indicationsand/or jointly perform any other aspect of functionality describedherein).

Further, in some embodiments, when the assistant device is being used toplay music (or render another audio file), the volume of the musicand/or any aural indications that are generated may be adjusted. Forexample, if the assistant device detects an aural command while music isbeing played, the volume of the music may be reduced (and/or the musicmay be paused) while an aural command is generated in response to theaural command. As one specific example, in embodiments in which theassistant device has more than one speaker, such as a “left” speaker anda “right” speaker, the volume of the music being rendered by one of thespeakers may be reduced (or completely prevented from being rendered bythat speaker) while that speaker is used to generated the auralindication.

Turning to FIG. 4, an exemplary method 400 for providing recreational(e.g., golf-related) assistance, in accordance with various aspects ofthe present invention, is provided. Method 400 may be implemented usingthe assistant device(s), components, etc., and may implement any of theadditional steps, functionality, etc., described above. Method 400begins (step 402) with, for example, an assistant device, such as thosedescribed herein, being powered ON and/or the navigational (or GPS)functionality integrated therein being activated.

An aural (or voice) command is detected with a microphone on a frame ofthe assistant device (step 404). As described above, the aural commandmay include any speech that suitably indicates a request fornavigational information, such as the distance between two points (e.g.,between the assistant device and a landmark, such as a portion of agreen on a golf course).

A signal representative of navigational information (e.g., the requesteddistance) is generated (step 406). More specifically, in someembodiments, the signal is generated and/or received in response to thedetection of the aural command. As described above, the signal may begenerated by and/or received from a satellite navigation system (and/ora satellite navigation system module), such as a GPS module, which maybe connected to the frame.

An aural indication is generated utilizing a speaker on the frame (step408). As described above, the aural indication may be indicative and/orrepresentative of the requested navigational information (e.g., therequested distance). In some embodiments, the aural indication is avoice response. If the aural command is a first type of aural command,the landmark may be a first portion of the green. If the aural commandis a second type of aural command, the landmark may be a second portionof the green.

Method ends (step 410) with, for example, the aural indication beinggenerated by the speaker. Additional commands, such as additional auralcommands and/or from input received through user input devices, may thenbe received, which may cause the operation of the assistant device(s) asdescribed above. For example, if at least a second aural command isdetected, the speaker may be caused to generate a second auralindication representative of a distance between the frame and a secondlandmark on the golf course.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a schematic of an example of a computing node10 is shown. The computing node 10 is provided as an additional exampleof a device which may implement at least some of the functionalitydescribed above. As such, the computing node 10 is only one example of asuitable computing system and is not intended to suggest any limitationas to the scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein. Regardless, the computing node 10 (and/or one or moreprocessors described herein) is capable of being implemented and/orperforming (or causing or enabling) any of the functionality set forthhereinabove.

In the computing node 10, there is a computer system (and/or server) 12,which is operational with numerous other general purpose or specialpurpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples ofwell-known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations thatmay be suitable for use with computer system 12 include, but are notlimited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

The computer system 12 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. The computer system 12 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 5, the computer system 12 is shown in the form of ageneral-purpose computing device. The components of computer system 12may include, but are not limited to, one or more processors orprocessing units 16, a system memory 28, and a bus 18 that couplesvarious system components including system memory 28 to processor 16.

The bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of busstructures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and notlimitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture(ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA)bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, andPeripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus.

The computer system 12 typically includes a variety of computer systemreadable media. Such media may be any available media that is accessibleby the computer system 12, and it includes both volatile andnon-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

The system memory 28 may include computer system readable media in theform of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/orcache memory 32. The computer system 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 may be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to the bus 18 by one or moredata media interfaces. The system memory 28 may include at least oneprogram product having a set (e.g., at least one) of program modulesthat are configured to carry out the functions of embodiments of theinvention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in the system memory 28 by way of example, and notlimitation, as well as an operating system, one or more applicationprograms, other program modules, and program data. Each of the operatingsystem, one or more application programs, other program modules, andprogram data or some combination thereof, may include an implementationof a networking environment. The program modules 42 generally carry outthe functions and/or methodologies of embodiments of the invention asdescribed herein.

The computer system 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14, such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with the computersystem 12 and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) thatenable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or more othercomputing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output (I/O)interfaces 22. Still yet, the computer system 12 may communicate withone or more networks such as a local area network (LAN), a general widearea network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) vianetwork adapter 20. As depicted, the network adapter 20 communicateswith the other components of computer system 12 via bus 18. It should beunderstood that although not shown, other hardware and/or softwarecomponents could be used in conjunction with the computer system 12.

The present invention may be a system (or device), a method, and/or acomputer program product. The computer program product may include acomputer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readableprogram instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry outaspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowcharts and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowcharts and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowcharts and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowcharts or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, and combinations ofblocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, can beimplemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform thespecified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purposehardware and computer instructions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golfing assistant device comprising: a frame; amicrophone connected to the frame; a Global Positioning System (GPS)module connected to the frame; at least one speaker connected to theframe; and at least one processor connected to the frame and in operablecommunication with the microphone, the GPS module, and the at least onespeaker, wherein the at least one processor is configured to, inresponse to the detection of an aural command by the microphone, causethe at least one speaker to render an aural indication representative ofGPS information received from the GPS module, wherein the GPSinformation comprises a distance between the frame and a landmark on agolf course, wherein the at least one processor is further configured tocause the at least one speaker to render at least one audio file andcause a volume with which at least one of the aural indication and theat least one audio file is rendered by the at least one speaker to beautomatically reduced based on a second golfing assistant device beingdetected rendering at least one of a second aural indication and asecond audio file within a predetermined distance of the frame, andwherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause thevolume with which the at least one audio file is rendered by the atleast one speaker to be reduced while the aural indication is renderedby the at least one speaker.
 2. The golfing assistant device of claim 1,wherein the landmark is a portion of a green on the golf course.
 3. Thegolfing assistant device of claim 2, wherein the at least one processoris further configured to, in response to the detection of at least asecond aural command by the microphone, cause the at least one speakerto render a third aural indication representative of a distance betweenthe frame and a second landmark on the golf course.
 4. The golfingassistant device of claim 3, wherein the second landmark on the golfcourse is a portion of a second green on the golf course.
 5. The golfingassistant device of claim 2, wherein if the aural command is a firsttype of aural command, the landmark is a first portion of the green, andif the aural command is a second type of aural command, the landmark isa second portion of the green.
 6. The golfing assistant device of claim1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the volumewith which the at least one audio file is rendered by the at least onespeaker to be automatically reduced based on a second golfing assistantdevice being detected rendering at least one of a second auralindication and a second audio file within a predetermined distance ofthe frame, and wherein the causing of the volume with which the at leastone audio file is rendered by the at least one speaker to be reducedcomprises ceasing the rendering of the at least one audio file.
 7. Thegolfing assistant device of claim 1, further comprising a wirelesscommunications receiver connected to the frame and in operablecommunication with the at least one processor, wherein the wirelesscommunications receiver is configured to receive data from a computingdevice in a vicinity of the frame, wherein the data comprises the atleast one audio file.
 8. The golfing assistant device of claim 1,wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause thevolume with which the at least one of the aural indication and the atleast one audio file is rendered by the at least one speaker to beautomatically reduced when the frame is within a predetermined distanceof the landmark based on the GPS information indicating that thelandmark is at least one of a portion of a green on the golf course anda tee box on the golf course.
 9. The golfing assistant device of claim7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to, inresponse to the detection of at least a second aural command by themicrophone, control a software component installed on the computingdevice utilizing the wireless communications receiver.
 10. A golfingassistant device comprising: a frame; a microphone connected to theframe, the microphone being configured to detect an aural command; aspeaker connected to the frame; and at least one processor connected tothe frame and in operable communication with the microphone and thespeaker, wherein the at least one processor is configured to, inresponse to the detection of the aural command by the microphone,generate a signal representative of a distance between the frame and alandmark on a golf course and cause the speaker to render an auralindication representative of the distance, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to cause the speaker to render at leastone audio file and cause a volume with which at least one of the auralindication and the at least one audio file is rendered by the speaker tobe automatically adjusted based on a second golfing assistant devicebeing detected rendering at least one of a second aural indication and asecond audio file within a predetermined distance of the frame, andwherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause thevolume with which one of the aural indication and the at least one audiofile is rendered by the speaker to be automatically adjusted while theother of the aural indication and the at least one audio file is beingrendered.
 11. The golfing assistant device of claim 10, wherein the atleast one processor comprises a navigation system module.
 12. Thegolfing assistant device of claim 11, wherein the at least one processoris further configured to, in response to the detection of at least asecond aural command by the microphone, cause the at least one speakerto render a third aural indication representative of a distance betweenthe frame and a second landmark on the golf course.
 13. The golfingassistant device of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to cause the volume with which the at least one ofthe aural indication and the at least one audio file is rendered by thespeaker to be automatically adjusted when the frame is within apredetermined distance of the landmark based on navigational informationreceived from the navigation system module indicating that the landmarkis at least one of a portion of a green on the golf course and a tee boxon the golf course.
 14. The golfing assistant device of claim 11,wherein if the aural command is a first type of aural command, thelandmark is a first portion of the green, and if the aural command is asecond type of aural command, the landmark is a second portion of thegreen.
 15. The golfing assistant device of claim 11, wherein the atleast one processor is configured to cause the volume with which the atleast one audio file is rendered by the speaker to be automaticallyreduced based on a second golfing assistant device being detectedrendering at least one of a second aural indication and a second audiofile within a predetermined distance of the frame, and wherein thecausing of the volume with which the at least one audio file is renderedby the at least one speaker to be reduced comprises ceasing therendering of the at least one audio file.
 16. The golfing assistantdevice of claim 15, further comprising a wireless communicationsreceiver connected to the frame and in operable communication with theat least one processor, wherein the wireless communications receiver isconfigured to receive data from a computing device in a vicinity of theframe, wherein the data comprises the at least one audio file.
 17. Thegolfing assistant device of claim 16, wherein the at least one processoris further configured to, in response to the detection of at least asecond aural command by the microphone, control a software componentinstalled on the computing device utilizing the wireless communicationsreceiver.